This time, I would like to introduce the whiskey I purchased in November 2024, as I do every month.
Introduction of whiskey purchased in October 2024 is “here』。
- 1st: Saburomaru V
- 2nd: ACORN Friends of Oak Linkwood 2008 15 years
- 3rd: Yoshida Denzai Whiskey Talk Fukuoka 2024 Bent Limited
- 4th bottle: Igawa Distillery Drawing Series Flora
- 5th: Rudder Mitake 2021-2024 Oloroso Sherry Bat Hyakuseifuma
- 6th: Trinidad Drum 2003 21 Year Barrel for BAR CAPERDONICH & SHINANOYA
- 7th bottle: Buffalo Trace Whiskey Festival in Tokyo 2024
- 8th bottle: Maker’s Mark Private Selection Bourbon Girl’s Select
- 9th bottle: Ichiro's Malt 20th Anniversary Edition
- Closing Thoughts
- YouTube
1st: Saburomaru V
I was able to obtain it safely this time, Saburomaru V (Fifth).
This time there seems to be a difference in that ale yeast was used in a mature yeast state.
The initial stage of yeast cultivation is called fresh yeast, and the final stage is called mature yeast, and it is said that mature yeast produces a more complex flavor.
II changed the distiller to ZEMON, III used Islay peat, and IV used Highland peat.It's not as easy to understand or catchy as the previous versions, but I think it's delicious with fruity nuances and peat.
I think Saburomaru has a consistent taste of yellow fruit and peat throughout the series.
I thought that the Cask Strength version of the previous series was more delicious than the water-added version, but when I compared the drinks at a bar before purchasing, I found that the water-added version of this V was more delicious.
I think it would be possible to compare the drinks of added water and cask strength at whiskey events, and I think it would be interesting to compare the drinks of the series, so I think it would be possible at a bar, so if you see it, give it a try.
Personally, when it comes to Saburomaru, I'm more likely to think that an official vatted bottle is more delicious than a single cask bottle, so it's okay to go for a single cask bottle, but be sure to check out the official bottle as well.
2nd: ACORN Friends of Oak Linkwood 2008 15 years
This is Linkwood from Acorn's Friends of Oak series.
Distilled in 2008, bottled in 2024, and aged for 15 years. .
As for the taste, it's full of apple flavor, pear-like, oily and nutty, and I think it really brings out the goodness of the short- to medium-ripened linkwood.
The biggest feature of the series is that it contains 46% water, so even when water is added, it doesn't lose its Linkwood flavor and you won't get tired of drinking it, so you can drink it for a long time.
As for bottlers, I don't buy added water often, but I drank it at a bar and it was delicious, so I grabbed it right away.
I think it's already sold out at 160 bottles of Outturn, so if you see it at a bar somewhere, give it a try.
3rd: Yoshida Denzai Whiskey Talk Fukuoka 2024 Bent Limited
Yoshida Denzai Distillery located in Murakami City, Niigata Prefecture.Whiskey Talk Fukuoka 2024” It was an event-limited book, and I was able to win it in a lottery and purchase it.
It has an alcohol content of 55% and has been aged for one year.
I have sampled Yoshida Denzai Distillery's whiskey at whiskey events, but I had never purchased it before.
This is because, although bottles were sold exclusively at the event, due to their popularity, you had to line up early to purchase them. .
So this is the first bottle I bought.
Shinko Distillery is interesting because it is a grain distillery, although there are many malt distilleries.
The 1st release aged for 1 year was also recently released, so it would be a good idea to compare it with this one.
I think I'll buy it if I see it.
4th bottle: Igawa Distillery Drawing Series Flora
This is the 1st release as a single malt from Ikawa Distillery in Shizuoka Prefecture.
First of all, congratulations on your 1st release.
I immediately opened the bottle and tried drinking it, and although it has a slight Newborn flavor, I think it has honey-like sweetness and flowery nuances.
I think the full bottles are sold out in many places, but they also sell mini bottles at events, so if you see them at a whiskey event in the future, stop by, or if you see them at a bar, give them a try.
The drawing series Flora & Fauna has more than 20 types with motifs of plants and animals from the Southern Alps, and several books are released each year.
Well, it feels like Akkeshi's 24 solar terms series.
Since it's hard to tell which is which, I personally think it would be easier to understand the 2024 editions such as Saburomaru I and II, Tsunuki, Komagatake, Asaka, etc. .
The alcohol content is 53%, and it is a non-peated type in a bourbon barrel, but I think there were also barrels other than bourbon and peated types at the event, so I look forward to future releases.
5th: Rudder Mitake 2021-2024 Oloroso Sherry Bat Hyakuseifuma
This is Mitake from the Hyakusei Fuma series released by Rudder.
Distilled in 2021, bottled in 2024, and aged for 3 years in Oloroso sherry butt.
The Mitake Distillery has started using seasoning barrels in some areas from 2022, so it is likely that solera barrels are being used here.
Single cask cask strength with an alcohol content of 57.5%.
I feel a connection with the official, and I think seasoning will be released in the future and I'll be able to compare it, so I think it would be interesting to have a Mitake PB or one of the official.
I think the price is cheap compared to other Japanese single casks, so please keep an eye out for the next release.
6th: Trinidad Drum 2003 21 Year Barrel for BAR CAPERDONICH & SHINANOYA
This bottle commemorates the 10th anniversary of Bar Capadonic, a famous restaurant in Shinbashi.
It's not whiskey, it's rum.
This is a 21-year-old bottle that was distilled in Trinidad in 2003, which is said to be a successful year, and bottled in 2024.
It has a complex aroma and taste, starting with spiciness, then giving way to slightly sour fruits like plums and plums, and then to tropical fruits in the second half, making it an extremely delicious drink.
I'm a rum beginner who mainly drinks whiskey and recently started drinking rum, but I think this is a bottle that will appeal to whiskey lovers as well, so if you see it at a bar, you should definitely give it a try.
7th bottle: Buffalo Trace Whiskey Festival in Tokyo 2024
Held in December 2024 “Whiskey Festival in Tokyo 2024” This is an event limited bottle.
There was a lottery and I was able to win and purchase it.
My favorite was Niigata Kameda's 3rd year, but unfortunately I missed out. .
The alcohol content is 45%, and this bottle was distilled in 2016 and aged for 8 years.
These days I'm getting over my dislike of bourbon if I drink it straight.
I haven't opened this yet, but it's probably delicious.
I bought Buffalo Trace for Shinanoya last month, and I plan to gradually collect bourbon as well.
8th bottle: Maker’s Mark Private Selection Bourbon Girl’s Select
Followed by bourbon.
This is Maker's Mark Private Selection, released by Likaman.
I had the opportunity to sample it at the 2nd anniversary event at the Likaman Hiroo store.
It has less spiciness and woodiness, which is why people don't like bourbon, and it has a strong sweetness and vanilla that people who usually drink Scotch or Japanese would like.
Of course, I also feel like I'm drinking proper bourbon.
It might not appeal to bourbon experts, but I thought it would appeal to people who are new to bourbon or don't like it, and it really hit home with me, so I bought it.
In November and December, there are many releases of premium bourbons such as Single Barrel Bourbon and Booker's, so I'll be keeping an eye on a variety of things.
9th bottle: Ichiro's Malt 20th Anniversary Edition
Since it is signed, it is presented only in the outer box.
This is the 20th Anniversary Edition, which was released to commemorate Venture Whiskey's founding in 2004 and its 20th anniversary in 2024.
It is a world blended whisky, and the following is said to be used as part of the constituent whiskey.
- Chichibu 15 years
- Hanyu 39 years
- Karuizawa 18 years
- Kawasaki 47 years
- benriach 14 years
- Other foreign whiskey aged for over 10 years
Chichibu 15 years: Of course Chichibu is used.
Hanyu 39 years: Hanyu is inseparable from Hido-san, so this is also used.
Karuizawa 18 Year Old: The Karuizawa Distillery ceased operation in 2000, so 18 year aging does not exist. .
In 2006, it was operated for about a week for Mr. Hito's training, and the unblended sake from that time was used.
Kawasaki 47 Years: It is a well-known story that Venture Whiskey stores Kawasaki's unblended whiskey.
Benriach 14 Year Old: This also uses the unblended sake from the famous Benriach Distillery, where Mr. Hito trained in 2007.
This is a luxurious blended whisky, with the main focus being on unblended whiskey from other countries, as well as other unblended whiskeys that are over 10 years old.
Well, it's expensive for a bottle of alcohol, but if you look at the lineup of this constituent unblended sake, I think it makes sense, or rather, I think it's cheap.
It has a complex flavor typical of a long-ripened blend, with a bit of peat, but also malty, fruity, and tropical elements typical of a long-ripened blend, so I think it's understandable in terms of taste.
It may be difficult to purchase, but it looks like it will be released in several batches until the middle of next year, so if you see it, buy it or try drinking it at a bar.
Closing Thoughts
It's been a while since I did something. .
There are a lot of Japanese whiskey releases in November and December, and bottlers are also releasing a lot of good releases. .
I've tried my hand at rum with one foot, but once I start getting into long-aged rums that are over 20 years old, I can't get enough of things like this, but I'd like to try my hand at things like this soon.
I will continue to carefully select the delicious drinks I drank at bars and whiskey events and purchase them again in December.
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